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Gold Cup Final 2013: U.S. vs. Panama preview

The United States will look for its 11th straight victory on Sunday in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup against Panama, which beat Mexico in the semifinals, denying the expected US-Mexico finale.

The U.S. advanced to the final with a 3-1 win over Honduras, with Landon Donovan scoring two goals and setting up another.

One factor that could affect the game is the status of U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann. He may get a sideline ban for the final
after being ejected in the 87th minute for slamming a ball into the
ground in the semifinal. A CONCACAF official said the disciplinary committee will announce a decision in the
next day.

"It was a reaction out of frustration," he said.
"It was not meant against the referee, against anybody. It was just
frustration. I apologize for that."

With or without its coach, the
U.S. team will look to regain the Gold Cup, which they last won in
2005, when they defeated Panama in penalty kicks.

The game will take place in Chicago and will begin at 4 p.m. Eastern time.

Launched
in 1991 after nearly 30 years of irregular regional championships, the
tournament has provided the maturing U.S. national team program with
many of its finest moments.

Some deride the Gold Cup as too
frequent or too top-heavy, but none can deny that competition between
World Cups has helped the U.S. develop its player pool while learning to
win at the international level.

The
big battles will come between the top-scoring strikers and the
defenders. Can Panama contain two free-scoring strikers? Will Gabriel
Torres have the quality to breach the U.S. back line and record his
sixth goal of the tournament?

Stuart Holden against Gabriel Gomez
should provide a good duel in midfield, while the matchup down the
United States' left flank of Jose Torres vs. Marcos Sanchez will also
provide plenty of industry as well as quality on the ball.

Panama has played well in the Gold Cup, beating Mexico twice. But it won't beat the U.S.
The Americans are on a roll of historic proportions.

They've won 10 in a row for the first time in the century-long history
of U.S. soccer. Their 19 goals in five games is a Gold Cup record for
the team. And Landon Donovan is on fire, with five goals and seven
assists in the tournament.

But don't take our word for it. Here's Honduran Coach Luis Fernando
Suarez after the U.S. beat his team in the semifinals:

"With the soccer that the United States has played to this point, they
have to be the favorite," he said. "After five games the United States
has proven to be the most complete team."

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